Allan Leighton to chair new
Exova owner Element
31st October 2017

Former Asda and Royal Mail head and current Co-op Chairman Allan Leighton has been announced as Non-Executive Chairman of the new EXOVA owner Element Materials Technology.

Charles Noall, President & CEO said: “With the recent acquisition of Exova, Element has more than doubled in size and Allan’s wide-ranging experience in successfully leading large organizations through significant change will be a major asset to the business.  Our ability to grow sustainably was recently reconfirmed in the 13th annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table, where we placed 108th; a rise of 36 places from the 2016 ranking.”

Allan Leighton added: “This is a very exciting time to be joining the Element Board.  The business operates in attractive end markets and it is clear that the opportunities for further growth are significant.  I am impressed by the scale of the business’s ambition and I look forward to working with Charles, the rest of the Board and the Executive team to help make Element the world’s most trusted testing partner.”

He was Group Marketing Director, then Chief Executive of Asda, leading its £6.7bn sale to Wal-Mart. Then, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Royal Mail from 2002 to 2009, he is credited for steering the organization through a transformational program of modernization.  He is currently Non-Executive Chair of the Co-operative Group; and Non-Executive Chairman of Entertainment One plc and Wagamama Ltd.

He is currently Chairman of the Canal and River Trust; 2nd Deputy Chairman of Pandora AS; and a Patron of Breast Cancer Care.